Network Security & Penetration Testing
Real-world attack simulation to root out security gaps across closed, hybrid, and on-prem networks.
Do you need a network penetration test?
A quick self-check. If several of these sound like you, it is worth a short conversation.
You likely need this if
- You have internet-facing infrastructure: VPN, mail, remote access or exposed services
- You want to know what an attacker could reach and move to from inside your network
- You have grown through acquisition, cloud migration or hybrid working without a full review
- An audit, insurer or board is asking for evidence your network defences hold
Not sure where you land? A short scoping call will tell you plainly, including if you do not need this yet.
Book a scoping callNetwork penetration testing
A simulated cyberattack against your infrastructure that finds and exploits security weaknesses before real attackers do - validating segmentation, firewall configuration, and access controls with real-world proof.
It is essential for ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, DORA, NIS2, and SWIFT CSP, which mandate regular, independent security validation. We also harden the network itself - NGFW, WAF, and EDR.
Confirm what an attacker could actually reach and do - not just what might be vulnerable.
Test firewall rules, segmentation, and access controls against real attacker techniques.
Tune NGFW, WAF, and EDR and close the gaps that testing reveals.
Deliver exploit evidence and remediation mapped to your compliance frameworks.
Penetration testing execution
Planning & Scoping
Define scope, IP ranges, rules of engagement, and approved testing windows.
Reconnaissance
Map the attack surface: hosts, services, and exposed entry points.
Scanning & Enumeration
Identify live services, versions, and likely weaknesses across the network.
Exploitation
Safely exploit validated weaknesses to prove real impact and lateral movement.
Reporting & Debrief
Deliver exploit evidence, business impact, and a prioritized remediation roadmap.
Every engagement delivers validated exploit evidence, business-impact analysis, and a prioritized remediation roadmap - the audit-ready proof your frameworks require.
Learn what's best for your company
Service categories
External & internal network testing
External simulates an internet-based attacker against your perimeter; internal assumes a breach and hunts lateral movement and privilege escalation.
Black-box, gray-box, or white-box
Choose the knowledge level: zero knowledge for realism, partial for balance, or full documentation for the deepest coverage.
Use cases and business rationale
Security posture validation
Confirm whether your defenses actually stop a real attacker, end to end.
Breach detection & response
Test whether intrusions are detected and how far an attacker could move.
Regulatory validation
Independent testing for PCI-DSS, DORA, ISO 27001, and SWIFT CSP.
Pre-audit & change assurance
Validate security before audits, migrations, or major infrastructure changes.
Reporting structure and metrics
Management Report
An executive overview of findings, business impact, risk ratings, and remediation priorities.
Technical Report
Exploit evidence, affected systems, CVE references, attack-chain visuals, and prioritized fixes.
Verified vulnerabilities by severity, exploited paths, segmentation effectiveness, time-to-remediation, and retest pass rate.
Executive-level summary
Board-ready findings, risk ratings, and a remediation roadmap your executives and auditors can act on.
Network penetration testing rationale
Independent network testing is the control that turns several EU and industry mandates into demonstrable evidence.
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PCI-DSS: Annual external and internal penetration testing, plus testing after significant changes.
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DORA: Annual testing programs, with threat-led penetration testing (TLPT) for critical entities.
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ISO 27001: Periodic penetration testing as part of the risk-management cycle.
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NIS2 & SWIFT CSP: Independent validation of network controls for essential entities and SWIFT users.
Network penetration testing FAQ
They serve different purposes:
| Dimension | Vulnerability scanning | Penetration testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Automated identification of known vulnerabilities | Simulated attack exploiting vulnerabilities to validate risk |
| Method | Automated tools, no manual exploitation | Manual and automated exploit attempts by experts |
| Depth | Lists potential issues (false positives possible) | Confirms real-world impact |
| Frequency | Quarterly or continuous | Annually or after significant changes |
Scanning identifies what could be vulnerable; penetration testing proves what is actually exploitable and what damage an attacker could cause.
Common approaches include:
- External network testing: attacks from outside your network (internet-based attackers).
- Internal network testing: attacks from inside (compromised devices or malicious insiders).
- Wireless network testing: Wi-Fi security (KRACK, rogue access points, encryption weaknesses).
- Cloud network testing: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud network configurations.
- Segmentation testing: verifying isolation (critical for PCI-DSS cardholder-data environments).
- Red team testing: full-scope adversary simulation with social engineering and physical access.
Most organizations need external and internal testing annually, with wireless testing where Wi-Fi is used and cloud testing for cloud-hosted infrastructure.
Most frameworks require annual testing as a minimum. Test beyond the annual cycle:
- After significant infrastructure changes (new servers, re-architecture, cloud migration).
- Following major application deployments or upgrades.
- After security incidents or detected breaches.
- When expanding to new environments (offices, cloud regions, data centers).
- Prior to compliance audits and when regulatory requirements change.
PCI-DSS requires annual external and internal testing plus testing after significant changes; DORA mandates annual programs with TLPT for critical entities.
A professional report provides comprehensive, actionable documentation:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Executive summary | Non-technical overview of findings, risk ratings, business impact, and priorities |
| Testing scope | Networks, systems, and IP ranges tested, methodologies, and timeframe |
| Vulnerability findings | Identified vulnerabilities with CVE IDs and severity ratings |
| Exploit evidence | Step-by-step exploitation, screenshots, proof-of-concept, attack-chain visuals |
| Remediation guidance | Specific fixes, patch versions, configuration changes, and timeline priorities |
| Compliance mapping | How findings align with ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, DORA, NIS2, or SWIFT CSP |
Internal teams can run basic vulnerability scanning, but external testing by certified professionals is required for most frameworks and brings:
- Independent perspective: unbiased assessment without internal blind spots.
- Specialized expertise: certified testers (OSCP, GPEN) with real-world attack experience.
- Regulatory acceptance: external reports accepted by auditors for PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, DORA, and SWIFT CSP.
- Adversary mindset and advanced tooling.
Internal teams should run continuous scanning; external firms should conduct the annual penetration test for compliance validation.
Good preparation ensures smooth execution and minimal disruption:
- Network diagrams showing segments, firewalls, and critical systems.
- In-scope and out-of-scope IP address ranges.
- A system inventory of critical servers, applications, and databases.
- Test accounts for authenticated scenarios (if authorized).
- Business hours, testing windows, and an emergency contact list.
- Previous reports and change-management procedures.
Black-box testing needs minimal information (just target ranges); white-box testing benefits from comprehensive documentation.
Duration varies with scope:
| Organization size | Scope | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-50) | External network only | 3-5 business days |
| Small-medium (50-200) | External + internal | 5-10 business days |
| Medium-large (200-1000) | Network + wireless + cloud | 10-20 business days |
| Enterprise (1000+) | Comprehensive, multi-environment | 20-40 business days |
Total project timelines typically span 2-6 weeks from kickoff to final report, including planning, testing, report writing, and a debrief.
Testing involves controlled risk that professionals manage through strict protocols:
- System stability: testers avoid destructive attacks and monitor health continuously.
- Data exposure: sensitive data is accessed only to prove exploitability, never extracted or stored.
- Disruption: testing runs in approved windows with rate limiting.
- Accuracy: every finding is validated manually to remove false positives.
A signed rules-of-engagement agreement, real-time communication, scheduled windows, backups, and tester liability insurance keep testing safe.
Cost scales with scope and the audit-readiness required:
| Scope | Tier | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| External only | Lowest | Internet-facing systems, firewall validation |
| External + internal | Medium | Segmentation and access-control validation |
| + wireless | Higher | Wi-Fi security and encryption validation |
| Full scope | Highest | Network, cloud, wireless, and applications |
Cost factors include the number of IP addresses, network complexity, testing depth (black-box vs white-box), certification requirements, and tester seniority.
Request a sample report
See exactly how we document exploit evidence, business impact, and remediation - and hear what clients say about working with us.
Their enthusiasm and commitment to excellence were palpable in every interaction.